Quorn Station

Venue information

Quorn station was formerly a small station on the original Great Central mainline that ran from London Marylebone to Manchester Piccadilly. Today it’s part of the preserved Great Central Railway that runs for 8 miles between Loughborough and Leicester. The station is the first stop for trains departing from Loughborough and is unique as one of the only preserved double track island platforms in the country.

The station was heavily used throughout the Second World War and at the time a goods yard was positioned where the car park now lies. This was greatly expanded to accommodate war traffic for the nearby army and prisoner of war camps. Although the tracks in the goods yard have not survived, much of the infrastructure has and Great Central Railway has brought the station back into wartime condition. There are plenty of wartime features on the platform including gas masks, original wartime signs and even a wartime bunker at the far end, which has now been turned into a station cafeteria.

Interesting features off the platform include the signal box at the far end of the station, an original box that’s been moved to the railway from Market Rasen. The extensive car park is partly used by the Permanent Way team who look after the trackwork along the line and their machinery also provides the opportunity for some more unusual close up shots. In the summer, the front of the car park adjacent the railway line is roped off and many car owner clubs visit to use it as a spacious venue to show off their vehicles. If you’re looking for a bite, to eat the Manor House pub opposite the station entrance offers great food, overlooking the impressive Great Central Mainline.

An impressive venue with many interesting features to study and photograph. Make sure you check out the GCR weekend timetable to see the station in operation at its busiest times.